Let’s Get Digital | Newcastle

We recently hosted our Let’s Get Digital event in Newcastle, in collaboration with our social value partner Digital Unite. We brought together partners, community organisations and industry voices to share experiences and, more importantly, practical solutions to tackle digital exclusion. What struck me most wasn’t just the scale of the challenge, but the collective energy and shared ambition to address it.

The day itself highlighted the power of collaboration. Through a series of workshops, case studies and open discussions, attendees explored practical approaches to reaching digitally excluded groups and scaling impact. One of the strongest takeaways for me was the vital role of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) network.

These organisations are often closest to the communities we’re trying to support, they understand local needs, build trust, and play a crucial role in connecting individuals to the right support. While this is often one of the most challenging steps in the inclusion journey, it’s also one of the most important.

Highlights from the day:

Capgemini delivered a regional showcase event:

  • Sharing real-life impact stories from attendees
  • Strengthening cross-sector collaboration
  • Identifying opportunities to scale the programme across the region

It also reinforced something we strongly believe at Capgemini: that technology, when combined with the right partnerships, has the power to create genuinely inclusive change.

Our partnership with Digital Unite is central to this work. Together, we’re not just talking about digital inclusion, we’re actively delivering programmes that help individuals build the skills, confidence and access they need to participate fully in a digital world. Whether it’s enabling someone to access essential online services or helping them reconnect with others, these are small steps that can have a profound and lasting impact.

Initiatives like Let’s Get Digital demonstrate that no single organisation can solve digital exclusion alone. It takes collaboration across sectors, particularly with local organisations, to truly extend our reach and ensure support gets to those who need it most. By working closely with the VCSE network and partners like Digital Unite, we can drive more sustainable, community-led change.

For me, the day was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Digital inclusion isn’t just an initiative, it’s about people. It’s about unlocking opportunity, building confidence, and ensuring everyone has a fair chance to benefit from the digital world we’re all part of.

For more insights from the day click here.

I wanted to share my reflections following attendance at a Digital Inclusion event held at St James’s Park, Newcastle, which was facilitated by Capgemini.

Capgemini is a strategic supplier to DWP, and I attended in my capacity as the Senior Accountable Executive, responsible for the relationship. The event brought together representatives from the public sector, private sector, charities, and local communities across the North East to discuss approaches to digital inclusion.

The session provided an opportunity to engage with a range of stakeholders, understand different perspectives on digital accessibility, and explore how organisations are addressing inclusion within digital services. Discussions also highlighted opportunities for collaboration, particularly in relation to how support could be aligned with the needs of charities and local communities.

The event offered a useful forum to share and for me to reflect on the department’s ongoing work in supporting digital inclusion, while also gaining insight into broader activity across the region.

Cheryl Stevens MBE
Senior Accountable Executive
Department for Work and Pensions